A side view mirror and camera assembly for providing a mirror combined with a camera directed towards the blind spot of the mirror to allow a driver of a vehicle to view objects near the vehicle that are not viewable using the side view mirror alone. The side view mirror and camera assembly includes an adjustable camera coupled to a side view mirror housing to show a view of the blind spot of the side view mirror on a display viewable by a driver of a vehicle. In an embodiment, the camera is positioned within the side view mirror housing behind a one way portion viewing of the mirror.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A side view mirror and camera system for providing a comprehensive view of areas surrounding a vehicle, said system comprising: a side view mirror housing coupled to the vehicle, said side view mirror housing having an opening; a mirror coupled to said side view mirror housing and positioned in said opening; a camera coupled to said side view mirror housing; adjustment means for adjusting said camera to capture an image of a desired area adjacent to said vehicle; and a display positioned inside the vehicle, said camera being operationally coupled to said display whereby said display displays said image captured by said camera; wherein said adjustment means and said camera are positioned outside of said side view mirror housing.
2. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 1 wherein said mirror includes a one way mirror portion and said camera is positioned within said housing behind said one way mirror portion.
3. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 2 further comprising: said adjustment means including a camera control panel positioned within the vehicle such that said camera control unit is accessible to a driver of the vehicle, said camera control panel being operationally coupled to said camera for adjusting a position of said camera such that a selectable area is viewable on said display.
4. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 3 , further comprising: focusing means coupled to said display for manually adjusting focus of said display.
5. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 3 wherein said camera control panel includes user interface inputs for moving said camera left, right, up and down.
6. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 2 further comprising: said adjustment means including a camera mount assembly coupled to said camera, said camera mount assembly being pivotable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
7. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 1 further comprising: said adjustment means including a camera control panel positioned within the vehicle such that said camera control unit is accessible to a driver of the vehicle, said camera control panel being operationally coupled to said camera for adjusting a position of said camera such that a selectable area is viewable on said display.
8. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 7 , further comprising: focusing means coupled to said display for manually adjusting focus of said display.
9. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 7 wherein said camera control panel includes user interface inputs for moving said camera left, right, up and down.
10. The side view mirror and camera system of claim 1 further comprising: said adjustment means including a camera mount assembly coupled to said camera, said camera mount assembly being pivotable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
11. A side view mirror and camera system for providing a comprehensive view of areas surrounding a vehicle, said system comprising: a side view mirror housing coupled to the vehicle, said side view mirror housing having an opening; a mirror coupled to said side view mirror housing and positioned in said opening; a camera coupled to said side view mirror housing; adjustment means for adjusting said camera to capture an image of a desired area adjacent to said vehicle; and a display positioned inside the vehicle, said camera being operationally coupled to said display whereby said display displays said image captured by said camera; said adjustment means including a camera mount assembly coupled to said camera, said camera mount assembly being pivotable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction; wherein said camera mount assembly includes a generally X-shaped frame coupled to outside corners of said camera.
12. A side view mirror and camera system for providing a comprehensive view of areas surrounding a vehicle, said system comprising: a side view mirror housing coupled to the vehicle, said side view mirror housing having an opening; a mirror coupled to said side view mirror housing and positioned in said opening; a camera coupled to said side view mirror housing; adjustment means for adjusting said camera to capture an image of a desired area adjacent to said vehicle; and a display positioned inside the vehicle, said camera being operationally coupled to said display whereby said display displays said image captured by said camera; wherein said mirror includes a one way mirror portion and said camera is positioned within said housing behind said one way mirror portion; said adjustment means including a camera mount assembly coupled to said camera, said camera mount assembly being pivotable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction; wherein said camera mount assembly includes a generally X-shaped frame coupled to outside corners of said camera.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
November 22, 2002
October 11, 2005
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